FROM THE ASHES: Segment #20

That Darn Pig

   This is one of the most charming of the Miyazaki films. A fantastical story of love; a love of the skies, and romance. This 1992 feature film is based on a three part manga written by Miyazaki himself. A unique feature of this film is its setting in a believable world, making it just about possible for it to have occurred in the real world, save for a cursed hero and a light-hearted attitude towards piracy. I have to say, it's a thrill to have Joe Hisaishi on the score again, and Toshio Suzuki on production. With both subtle and overt tones of war and political strife, this film had a bit of controversy wrapped up around it due to the war in Yugoslavia at the time, and some of its old time ideologies. So let's jump right in.

   My goodness, the score! This is one of the most uplifting scores that match its visuals perfectly. There's also a lot of silent expositional moments as well, but they all serve the film well. Very beautiful film indeed. While in some instances this film is a over romanticized look on wartime, it also retains a certain quality of darker tones in the background. Another notion in this film that I sometimes find irksome is its constant references to females announcing that they are females. The " it's because I'm a woman!" tagline gets a bit in your face sometimes, in my opinion. At the same time, this film does a good job of showing women as strong of mind and body as engineers and builders. The strong female is prevalent in many of Miyazaki's films, but here I feel it's rather diluted in comparison to some of his stronger female characters. Still, this film has its many charms as well. With warm and bright colors, even the darker elements of the story seem to fade away to the background. This film is one of those that I feel could have been a series filled with many more adventures, and a long-standing tale of great romance. This film is also a lovely tribute to aviation, which as one may notice, Miyazaki is a large fan of. Every single one of his films has a flight scene. The cast performances here are subtle, but noteworthy. The Japanese cast I think it's okay, but I personally love the English cast here. And an all star cast it is! This film stars Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, Susan Egan, Brad Garrett, and Kevin Michael Richardson. While I wouldn't go so far as to call this my favorite of Miyazaki's films, I still recommend it for fans of planes, wartime dramas, classic romance, with nods to slapstick humor. While the mystery of Porco Rosso's curse eludes us, there's no doubt as to why people find this film so charming. Memorable characters, a classic film feel, beautiful scenery and the sensation of flight, all add up to a great work of art. Hope you enjoy!


From The Ashes, V.~

FROM THE ASHES: Segment # 14

Totoro-to-toro! 

   Now we're really talkin nostalgia! As beloved as Winnie the Pooh, and well known as Mickey Mouse, is Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro (1988). Once again magnificently scored by Joe Hisaishi, comes a heartwarming tale of childhood summers, and mystical forest spirits. Doesn't sound like it would add up at first, but indeed it does. With so many other grand adventures carrying massive sociological, ethical, philosophical and moralistic themes, it was just the right time to cozy up to a simplistic fairytale; the kind that explores the adventure in everyday moments. And that's exactly what this film does. With a vibrant color palette, and a soft and charming tone, an exemplary tale of every day, or "slice of life" unfolds. Totoro became so popular with international audiences, that he in fact has a cultural impact in media. With nods to the character ranging from the pages of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: Brief Lives, to Toy Story 3, one can't deny influence. Another powerhouse film, Totoro added to the wave of anime in the 1980s expanding the viewership of western audiences.

   The story here is timeless. With the countryside settings and lush landscapes, the environment doesn't feel dated; rather, it represents a peaceful idealism of relaxation. That alone appeals to audiences everywhere; for we often want to escape from our hectic lives and just hear the quiet. While there are some plot lines, they are extremely muted; almost background noise, really. The main story is one that feels as if it could go on forever, for how does one put parameters on imagination and a youthful heart? While there is quite a lot of fantastical whimsy spread throughout the film, the focus is always the children and their everyday discoveries. Weather the moment calls for chasing a tiny forest spirit, flying through the night sky with Totoro, watering flowers, cooking dinner, or enjoying a sunset, all activities are met with a sense of genuine love of life. To be sure, the hardships in life sometimes breach ones euphoria, but that doesn't mean they should not be faced with grace. A simple story that manages to also be not that simple, My Neighbor Totoro definitely warms the heart. It makes us all recall carefree days, no matter our age. A beautiful message brought beautifully to the screen, this film is a must see. Exquisite animation as always from Studio Ghibli, and a fantastic English cast brought together by Disney, the overall production is quality. I prefer the English cast here because while the Japanese actors are fine, some of the performances just felt a bit off to me. To each their own. Anyways, if you want a happy reminder of youthful days gone by, nothing is more nostalgic and heartwarming then this lovely story of my Neighbour Totoro. *sings along to the Totoro song* Enjoy!

From The Ashes, V.~

FROM THE ASHES: Segment # 11

Lost Cities Above the Clouds

   One tiny side note I must mention, this movie came to theaters on my birthday...a yeah before I was born, that is. Anecdotes aside, this week we travel to Hayao Miyazaki's Castle In The Sky. While Miyazaki both wrote and directed, Isao Takahata (1935-) produced the film. He is also the co-founder of Studio Ghibli. Another familiar crew member, Joe Hisaishi, returns as composer, bringing to life the grand sense of flight and fancy within this film. This 1986 feature was the first film produced and released under the banner of Studio Ghibli. However, with so many grand successes following, this film often gets outshined and at one of the longest running times (its over 2 hours), that's unfortunate. Many of the elements of the story and setting are inspired by Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. I personally found that ironic, as Gulliver's Travels is a personal favorite of mine, while Castle In The Sky is not high on my list. Through no fault of its own; mind you it's still a Miyazaki film. Thus, its still got a lot in its corner.

   For me personally I see this film as a great tribute to architecture and all the lost cities of literature. From Atlantis to Pompeii, this film gathers a bit of each stories adventure and mystical nature. This film has scale. The environments are vast; showcasing an expansive variety of locations as well. From a Victorian era themed pirate ship to a long-lost technologically advanced society that defied gravity itself, this film has it covered. Aaaaaaaand that's where my high praise begins its slippery slope. While I do admire the film's creativity, it all feels rather...borrowed. Its still original to be sure, however it does not surpass the sum of its parts. The characters are mostly passive, which seems ironic as everyone is always doing something. I wish there were more than a couple quiet moments in this film. The story is very linear. While that's not uncommon in many films, it just feels so blase here. As I stated before, this film's strong point is its nod to era specific architecture. It looks stunning. The structural layout and design of city spaces both on earth and in sky are dynamic and detailed. It definitely keep you wanting to explore the visuals throughout the film's progression. The final 20 minutes of the film are satisfying to the utopian fantasy sci-fi fan in all of us. There are many beautifully animated moments I enjoy throughout this film, and the score compliments them quite nicely. As for which cast to view it with, either is honestly fine. The story is simple, the settings are vast, the characters are a tad bland but still capable of charm and warmth. Sometimes the movie feels too long for its story, other times I feel it should have been a miniseries to properly express itself. Despite all my rantings, Castle In The Sky is still an entertaining adventure flick even with its long running time. May each lost traveler find their own point of interest in this tale above the clouds. Enjoy!

 

From The Ashes, V.~